As the second week of January comes to a close, New Year's resolutions have (hopefully) not fallen by the wayside just yet. Promises to lead a healthier life are always harder to keep than expected, and the aftermath of holiday gluttony still hangs on many a body's frame.

A juice cleanse may be the answer to your post-holiday health woes.

When examining the health benefits of juicing, it is important to differentiate between a “juice cleanse,” which is a short-term juice fast designed to detox the body, versus incorporating fresh juice into a daily health routine. While both types of juice regimens have their benefits, the experiences differ greatly.

A short-term juice detox is much more extreme than incorporating juice into a pre existing diet, which makes it difficult to stick to. It is this radical form of juice diet that has attracted the most controversy in the media and among nutrition professionals.

However, if you're in for the long haul, detoxing the body and resetting the system can make the difference between sticking to a healthy lifestyle and caving to past unhealthy habits.

In order to do this, participate in a strict juice cleanse for three to five days. It will likely be a borderline painful process with headaches and cravings that rear their ugly head. But if you stick to it, your body will achieve a state of equilibrium, and you can begin to incorporate healthy, solid foods back into your diet. These should be whole, nutritious, and well-balanced. The idea is that, after consuming only fresh plant juices, your body with have detoxified itself, thus eradicating sugar cravings, caffeine cravings, and other saboteurs of a healthy lifestyle.

If the idea of a juice cleanse repels you on every level, the reality is that the amount of fruit and vegetables the average American eats per day will never come close to the volume of fruits and vegetables that can be put into one juice and consumed in a 20-minute period. Because the body is receiving a delivery of pure nutrients rather than solid foods that must be broken down, the amount of nutrients absorbed by the body skyrockets, resulting in some pretty magical health results. Those that participate in occasional juice detoxes or consistently drink fresh pressed juice report increased mental capacity, glowing skin, hair, and eyes, weight loss, increased energy levels, and overall an improved daily life.

Are you completely on board with fresh pressed juice, but worried about the cost of a juicer, not to mention the loads of produce required every week? Though it may be tricky at first, juicing on a budget is feasible.

The first step is investing in a juicer. This gives you the freedom to make juice whenever you want, and with whatever fruits and vegetables you favor.

For beginners, an entry-level centrifugal juicer that won't break the bank is just the ticket to get you rolling. Though these do not yield the largest volume of juice versus pulp (the leftover, non-juicy bits), they are perfect for beginner juicers because they are fast, easy to clean, easy to use, and the pricing starts as low as $45.

Staying within budget when buying fresh produce can also be managed by buying non-organic, locally grown produce and choosing fruits and vegetables that are in season.

If buying your own juicer simply isn't in your price range or you're just not sure you want to make that kind of commitment, there are two other options.

Option one is visiting your local juice bar. These little juice stops have been popping up in every major city ever since the craze hit the diet scene.

Los Angeles has its fair share, with the popular Sustain Juicery in Downtown L.A. and The Punchbowl, located on Melbourne.

Is New York more your speed? Fret not, for they have many a juice bar as well. The most well known is Juice Generation, which has multiple locations in Manhattan. Caffes and lunch spots all over the city have also added fresh juices to their menus, and many juice bars also double as health food havens, serving up fresh kale salads and quinoa side dishes. Even if the juice may not be for you, these spots could be your next favorite place to grab a bite.

Option two is ordering a juice cleanse regimen from one of the many companies that will ship them to your door. Companies such as BluePrint Cleanse, Cooler Cleanse, Organic Avenue, and Pressed Juicery provide cleanse plans that range anywhere from one to five days, and include all of the juices you will need for the entirety of the cleanse. Though these plans are extraordinarily convenient and take all of the guesswork out of juicing, they may not be the best option for everyone, as they are a bit pricey. They also take the flavor control away from the consumer. You get what you get, whether you like kale or not.

Whatever you choose, any juicing regimen is sure to give your health the kick it needs. Juice is widely accessible, so there is no excuse not to up your nutritional ante this year. 

Head here and here for some great juice recipes.

Reach Staff Reporter Ashley Seruya here or follow her on Twitter here.